BirhorLocation. A forest-dwelling society of over 8,000 people in 1991, who live in central and eastern India inthe states of Orissa, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, and Jharkhand with the greatest concentration in the Ranchi, Hazaribagh, and Singhbhum districts of Jharkhand.Economy. The traditional Birhor economy has been based on nomadic gathering, hunting, particularly for monkeys, and making ropes out of the fibers of a particular species of vine, which they sell in the markets of the nearby agricultural peoples. The Birhors are the primary suppliers of ropes to the peasant communities, so both groups depend on one another and have a stable exchange relationship. But the Birhor have been quite disrupted in recent decades due to deforestation and government attempts to settle them into permanent agricultural villages. Despite decades of resettlement efforts, they still abandon their settlements early in the morning to wander in what's left of their forests, only to return mostly empty handed in the evenings.Beliefs that Foster Peacefulness. Many Birhor beliefs are based on the needs of their society. For instance, according to one of their legends a Birhor man once discovered a rich supply of creepers perfect for making ropes for an entire year, but instead of hoarding the knowledge, he quickly returned to his settlement to tell everyone. Such myths encourage people to share their resources. The Birhor also believe in harmonizing their lives with natural forces—they love being in the forest. When they encounter poisonous snakes near their camps, the adults simply try to shoo them off like pets. They react with respect toward the

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